The Western Australia Government is seeking expressions of interest to build three major freeway upgrades as part of its $2.3 billion METRONET package of road and rail projects.
The three separate projects include the following freeway upgrades:
– Kwinana Freeway northbound widening – Russell Road to Roe Highway;
– Kwinana Freeway northbound Smart Freeway upgrade – Farrington Road to Narrows Bridge; and
– Mitchell Freeway southbound widening – Cedric Street to Vincent Street.
In the southern suburbs, the two Kwinana Freeway upgrades will cover about 22 kilometres from Russell Road in Success to the Narrows Bridge in South Perth.
Perth’s first ‘Smart Freeway’ on the Kwinana Freeway will create an additional lane from the Canning Highway to the Narrows Bridge through the use of smart technology.
“The Smart Freeways project will be the first of its kind in Western Australia and will use technology that has proven successful around the world in managing congestion, improving safety and getting the most out of existing infrastructure,” said WA Transport Minister Rita Saffioti in a statement.
The project will be complemented with ramp signals at Farrington Road, South Street, Leach Highway and Cranford Avenue to balance the flow of traffic onto the freeway.
Construction is expected to start in late 2018 with an aimed completion of late 2019 or early 2020.
Meanwhile, the Kwinana Freeway will be widened from two to three lanes between Russell Road and Roe Highway, with construction due to start in mid-2018, and completion around mid-2019.
“Significant growth in traffic volumes over recent years has resulted in congestion and flow breakdown on the Kwinana Freeway northbound. Both Kwinana Freeway projects will work together to enable traffic to move more effectively through this critical part of the metropolitan road network,” said Ms. Saffioti.
In Perth’s northern suburbs, an additional lane will be created for seven kilometres of the Mitchell Freeway southbound from Cedric Street to Vincent Street.
“The Mitchell Freeway carries some of the highest traffic demands in Perth, with up to 180,000 vehicles per day. Providing extra freeway capacity will result in a smoother and more reliable journey for residents of Perth’s northern suburbs, particularly during morning peak periods,” said the Minister.
Construction is expected to start in mid-2018, with completion by the end of 2019.
More information on the procurement process for these projects is available at http://www.tenders.wa.gov.au